Degreasing apparatus



Nov. 6, 1951 J. M. BASH DEGREASING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1946Patented Nov. 6, 1951 5..

John Bash, chicago, nl., assigner' to Phillips Manufacturing Co.,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 15, 194s,serial No. 677,074

This invention relates to a novel type of degreasing apparatus. It isknown to provide Various types of apparatus which are constructed anddesigned to vaporize a degreasing solvent, 'such as trichloroethylene,tetrachloroethylene,

etc., and to subject work to be degreased to the exposure of the vapor.In such devices the degreasing vapor condenses upon the work and washesgrease or other foreign matter therefrom.

As the degreasing operation is repeated, the degreasing solvent becomesfouled with grease and other matter and ultimately must be puriiied. Thepresent invention provides a simple degreasing apparatus which, duringuse, cleans the solvent and localizes the foreign matter collected bythe solvent so vthat purification of the solvent and removal of theforeign matter from the degreaser may be effected simply and rapidly,and without provision of separate purication equipment.

' The degreasing apparatus here shown is of the type wherein the sidewalls of the tank are the sole vapor condensing means and is to becontrasted with degreasing apparatus which elnploy cooling coils aroundthe upper inside perimeter around the tank to condense solvent andmaintain liquid level. One of the objects of applicants invention is toprovide means for returning to the distillate sump a maximum amount ofsolvent condensed on the side walls so that when the apparatus is usedfor solvent distilling purposes only, the operation may proceed rapidly.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the ensuingdisclosure taken with the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a type of degreaser hereincontemplated;

Fig. 2 is a, front view of the degreaser of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

The apparatus may be constructed of any convenient material such asmetal. and comprises a tank 2 having a partition 4 extending across 'thetank and upwardly from the tank bottom and forming a pair of sumps IIIand I2. Positioned in the sump l are suitable heating elements I4 whichmay be of any convenient construction, such as electrical coils orbayonet-type steam heaters. These heating elements serve to vaporize thedegreasing solvent which either condenses upon work to be degreasedcentrally zolaims.: (ciauz- 170)A disposed in the vapor chamber I6 orwhich condenses upon the clean wall of the chamber.

A gutter 2D runs along the walls I8 above sump I Il and drains into sumpI2. A drain plate 22 is mounted upon hooks or other supports 23 and 24,and slopes toward and drains into the sump I0.

It will be understood that articles to be degreased may be supported inthe vapor cham'- ber by conventional means on trays, in baskets, or byhooks. The degreaser also is provided with a cover or closure (notshown) for the top in order to prevent escape of solvent vapors from thetank.

In orderation for cleansing work, supported in the vapor space I6, thesump IIl is illled with Idegreasing solvent and the heating elements!turned on. Vapors condense on the work and the condensate washes thesurface of the article to be cleaned and falls off. Such condensate ifformed directly above sump I falls into this sump. 'Condensatecollecting upon work above the sump I2 is lcaught by the drain plate 22and is delivered to sump I0.

During the operation, solvent is condensed upon the walls I8 and eitherflows directly down the walls into the sump I2 or is caught by thegutter 20 and delivered to sump I2. Since the walls are normally clean aquantity of clean solvent accumulates in the sump I2 and as theoperation is continued, the accumulated clean solvent flows over theupper edge of the partition 4 into the sump I0. By this means, solventcarrying foreign matter washed from the work is localized largely insump Il).

The apparatus is constructed to facilitate cleaning thereof in a simplemanner. of sump I2 slopes toward the end of the tank and this sump isprovided at the bottom with an inlet or outlet pipe 32 which isconnected through a three-way valve or cock 34 to a pump 30.Consequently, clean solvent may be drained or pumped substantiallycompletely from the sump I2.

Sump I Il is provided with a bottom having a triangular at portion 40which slopes from one side toward the other side of the tank, and havingtriangular side portions 4I and 42 sloping toward the side of the tankand from the sump sides toward centrally disposed hat section 40. Thissump has an outlet 36 connected through three-way valve 38 to pump 30.

In order to clean this degreaser, the operator pumps all of the cleansolvent out of sump I2 by opening the cock 34 and closing cock 38 andThe floor pumping the liquid through outlet 39. He continues to operatethe heating elements until all of the solvent has condensed in sump I2and has been removed. Sediment, grease and other matter remaining on thefloor of sump I may be washed out by spraying water into the sump or thematter may be removed manually by means of a shovel or trowel. In anyevent, the con'- struction of the sump is such that removal of thismaterial is quite simple. Following cleaning, the clean solvent may breturned and the ap paratus used in further degreasing operations,

Although the present invention has been described with reference to thespecific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is vn'ot intendedthat such details shall be regarded as limitations upon the scope of theinvention except .insofar as included in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed:

1. A degreasing apparatus comprising a tank having a bottom and sidewalls, an upright partition between the side walls and positioned in thelower portion of said tank and dividing said lower portion into twoseparate sumps 'called respectively a vaporizing Isump and 'a`distillate sump, a heating element in the vaporizing sump, a gutteropening into the distillate sump and fastened to the side walls at thetop of the partition and extending around 'the inside walls over thevaporizing sump to a point over the partition at its opposite end, and areadily removable, imperforate drain plate substantially covering thedistillate sump but spaced from all a'djacent side walls by a distancejust sui'icient to permitsolvent condensing on the side walls to descendinto the distillate sump, said drain plate sloping toward andterminating above the vaporizing sump whereby dirty solvent drippingfrom the work will be carried to the vaporizing sump.

2. A degreasing apparatus comprising a. rectangular tank having bottomand side walls, an

4 upright transverse partition mounted in the lower part of the tank anddividing the lower part into a vaporizing sump and a distillate sump, anangle iron having one end mounted on top of the partition adjacent aside wall and extending along the wall above the vaporizing sump to theend wall of the tank so as to form with the side an angle iron similarlymounted on the end wall connecting the rst two angle irons, said angleirons forming with the side walls a U-shaped gutter over the vaporizingsump and opening at its ends into theA distillate sump, a bracketmounted Von the inside of the end wall adjacent the distillate sump at aheight slightly above the ,top of the partition, and a removable,imperforate drain plate 'substantially covering the top opening of thedistillate sump resting at one side on said bracket and at the otherside on the top of .the partition so that the plate slopes toward thedistillate sump whereby dirty solvent dripping from the work will becarried to the vaporizing sump, said plate having each of its .sidesspaced from the adjacent side wall by a distance sucient to permitsolventncondensed on the side walls to descend into the distillate sump.

JOHN M. BASH.

" REFERENCES CITED The following references are -of record .in the lfile-of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

